For the purpose of sharing good practices and relevant information regarding our work, we didicate this colum to publishing reports and work plans of Global Unification the Gambia and its valued partners . Here, you will find some of most recent reports, news buletins etc.
On July 25, 2011, Hundreds of young people converged on the United Nations in New York as the General Assembly kicked off a high-level meeting devoted to tackling the challenges facing youth and exploring their potential to bring about change in their societies and in the world at large. “We are seeking to promote a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding between young people and with young people as key stakeholders in today’s world,” Assembly President Joseph Deiss said as he opened the meeting.
“The events of recent months, in the Arab world in particular, have shown us the extent to which young people are key players in our societies and to what extent they can mobilize for change,” he added, as he called for drawing to a greater extent on the energy and enthusiasm of young people and to create the conditions to enable them to flourish.
“The meeting,” he later told reporters, “aims at underscoring the importance of supporting young people’s vast and untapped potential. “The two-day meeting, which is focusing on the theme of “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding,” is among events to mark the International Year of Youth, which comes to a close on International Youth Day on 12 August.
The event began on a sombre note with participants observing a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the terror attacks that took place in Norway on Friday in which more than 75 people were killed, including young people who were gunned down at a youth camp connected to the ruling Labour Party
He went on to note that the past few months have been momentous for youth, who have been at the centre of a movement for change that is sweeping North Africa and the Middle East . “The Facebook generation is showing a growing resolve to change our world – and a capacity to make things happen,” he said. “They are bringing their energy and courage to some of the most difficult issues we face.”
Mr. Ban said the international community must work to expand “the horizons of opportunity” for young women and men and answer their legitimate demands for dignity and decent work, noting that the global economic crisis and austerity measures in many countries are constraining these opportunities.
In the aftermath of the economic crisis, the youth unemployment rate rose from 11.9 per cent to 13 per cent from 2008 to 2009, the largest annual increase on record – with around 81 million unemployed young people. “Failing to invest in our youth is a false economy,” he stated. “Conversely, investing in young people will pay great dividends for all.”
The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document that calls for strategies to give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent work and urge countries to take effective measures to protect young people from terrorism, among other elements. For details, visit the UN News Center, here
AU DECISIONS DURING THE 17th AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT :
AUC Chairperson Jean Ping stressed Africa's extraordinary resilience during the recent economic and financial crises, noting that Africa is increasingly positioning itself as "the locomotive that will foster global growth in the near future." On the promotion of youth, he stressed recent AU supported initiatives, including the opening of the Pan African University, the creation of centers of excellence and the promotion of academic mobility.
He also underlined the importance of preparing for the upcoming 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Durban, South Africa, and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) to ensure that these meetings take Africa's interests and concerns into account, noting that UNECA, AU and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are working to support the development of Africa's position and will organize a Regional Preparatory Conference on Rio+20 in October 2011.Prime Minster of Equatorial Guinea Ignacio Milan Tang stated that youth empowerment for sustainable development revolves around policies for young, research-based, pro-job creation development.
Updates on the 19th Session Comission on Sustainable Development (Source: Earth Buletin).The 19th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 19) opened in New York, US, on 2 May 2011, and will run through 13 May 2011. This session will negotiate policy decisions related to the thematic cluster of transport, chemicals, hazardous waste, mining and the 10-year framework of programmes (10YFP) on sustainable consumption and production (SCP). In addition to the policy negotiations, delegates also will convene in a multi-stakeholder dialogue and high-level segment, including a ministerial roundtable.
Youth leaders from around the world also converged on the Youth Blast in New York on May 1, 2011 to share their skills and prepare for the 19th Session UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD-19).The purpose of the Youth Blast was to empower children and youth present at the CSD-19 through information sharing and training for leaders around the CSD as well as to provide a space for youth to share good practices for implementing solutions and participating in decision-making at the international level. Youth of Africa were represented by Jean Paul Afana-Cameroun and Shantel-Ghana.For updates on the role of the youth meeting, click here.
National Stakeholders' Workshop on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change in the Gambia. This was a two-day forum conducted on the theme: Climate Change and Agriculture; ensuring food security in our changing climate. It was organized by Global Unification and funded by Actionaid The Gambia. It was held on the 24th and 25th of February 2011, at Mansea Hotel, Senegambia. The forum was attended by up to 45 participants selected from relevant sectors in the country such as government department, NGOs, youth groups and women association, to deliberate, and share good practices on climate change solutions and community based adaptation to climate threats in particular and map out strategies for effective climate resilience in the country. To read the full report of this workshop, click here. Below are all presentations delivered at this workshop:OUR WORKPLANS ( 2009-2011)
News Headlines
Global Unification has from 2006 to date continue to recieve local and international media attention for its activities. This is manifested by the series of news reports and interview of the members of the association. Here, we feature some of the news reports such as:
Vision Development Foundation Donate to Global Unification,October 2010
Global Unification The Gambia Youth summer school participants take action on disaster Risk Reduction 2010
Global Unification National Representative renews call for end to violence against women July 2010
Global Unification The Gambia Youth summer school participants take action on disaster Risk Reduction 2010
Global Unification National Representative renews call for end to violence against women July 2010
Resource Material
Introduction to Proposal Writing ( www.fundsforngos.org). A proposal is an essential marketing document that helps cultivate an initial professional relationship between an organization and a donor over a project to be implemented. The proposal outlines the plan of the implementing organization about the project, giving extensive information about the intention, for implementing it, the ways to manage it and the results to be delivered from it.A proposal is a very important document. In some cases, a concept note precedes a proposal, briefing the basic facts of the project idea. For details, click here
Overcoming Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation: Innovative Strategies Using ICTs. (http://niccd.wordpress.com)
Overcoming Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation: Innovative Strategies Using ICTs. (http://niccd.wordpress.com)
Effective communication is essential in overcoming barriers, particularly those encountered during processes of adaptation and change.When faced with the many uncertainties posed by climate change impacts, the capacity to access, use and disseminate relevant information becomes crucial for vulnerable communities in order to better cope with and adjust to new climatic conditions -and to their social, economic and political repercussions. To read the full artilce click here. For related stories in NICCD, please click here
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